Optical sensors based on polymeric nanofibers layers created by electrospinning

Porous materials have become ideal candidates for the creation of optical sensors that are able to reach extremely high sensitivities, due to both the possibility to infiltrate the target substances on them and to their large surface-to-volume ratio. In this work, we present a new alternative for the creation of porous optical sensors based on the use of polymeric nanofibers (NFs) layers fabricated by electrospinning. Polyamide 6 (PA6) NFs layers with average diameters lower than 30 nm and high porosities have been used for the creation of Fabry-Pérot optical sensing structures, which have shown an experimental sensitivity up to 1060 nm/RIU (refractive index unit). This high sensitivity, together with the low production cost and the possibility to be manufactured over large areas, make NFs-based structures a very promising candidate for the development of low-cost and high performance optical sensors

Educators in the Time of COVID: Metamorphosis of a Profession and of a People

The following is a collection of reflections written by six educators ranging from K–Higher Education. In this feature, these educators share their experiences of living and educating during the 2020–2021 COVID-19 pandemic. Once compartmentalized and only used when needed, their separate roles and identities had to merge to meet educator, spousal, and parental demands. The first text by Brett Nickerson shows how his life as husband and father collided with his profession as an assistant professor at a university when his wife, a dedicated nurse, was called to help others in need. The second testimonial is by Mayra Garcia, a wife, parent of two, and social studies teacher at a high school. The third piece is by Claire Murillo, an educator and a mother, who experienced caring for a newborn during a hectic year of changes. Regina J. Bustillos, a wife, mother of four, and an educator in a border town in West Texas, contributes the fourth reflection. In the fifth reflection, Qiana O’Leary shares her narrative about finding who she is as an educator in this unprecedented crisis. Finally, the sixth reflection by Sara Abi Villanueva—a wife, mother of two, at the time, a graduate student, and an English, language arts, and reading teacher at the secondary level—is a life-in-the-day reflection schedule

External review of the Connectivity and Equity in the Americas / Institute for Connectivity in the Americas (CEA/ICA) Program

CEA/ICA has contributed to the development and dissemination of new ideas resulting in their adoption into the regional development research agenda and ICT4D field building in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). It has made significant contributions in developing research capacities and skills, and has generated evidence that has informed the design and reform of institutions, policies, regulations and laws. This detailed programme evaluation judges performance strengths and weaknesses of the CEA program and reviews research outputs, outcomes and activities

Copy number variation mapping and genomic variation of autochthonous and commercial turkey populations

This study aims at investigating genomic diversity of several turkey populations using Copy Number Variants (CNVs). A total of 115 individuals from six Italian breeds (Colle Euganei, Bronzato Comune Italiano, Parma e Piacenza, Brianzolo, Nero d\u2019Italia, and Ermellinato di Rovigo), seven Narragansett, 38 commercial hybrids, and 30 Mexican turkeys, were genotyped with the Affymetrix 600K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) turkey array. The CNV calling was performed with the Hidden Markov Model of PennCNV software and with the Copy Number Analysis Module of SVS 8.4 by Golden Helix\uae. CNV were summarized into CNV regions (CNVRs) at population level using BEDTools. Variability among populations has been addressed by hierarchical clustering (pvclust R package) and by principal component analysis (PCA). A total of 2,987 CNVs were identified covering 4.65% of the autosomes of the Turkey_5.0/melGal5 assembly. The CNVRs identified in at least two individuals were 362\u2014189 gains, 116 losses, and 57 complexes. Among these regions the 51% contain annotated genes. This study is the first CNV mapping of turkey population using 600K chip. CNVs clustered the individuals according to population and their geographical origin. CNVs are known to be indicators also of adaptation, as some researches in different species are suggesting

Information and Networks (I&N) Program Review Panel : external review final report

The 2011-2016 period marks the implementation term of the IDRC’s Information and Networks (I&N) Program, which seeks to enable greater understanding of how information networks affect citizens in developing countries, especially those belonging to marginalized communities. This evaluation reports on coherence, effectiveness and appropriateness of the implementation of the I&N Program Prospectus. Focusing on the evolution of the program’s strategy and implementation, findings show that the I&N Program has been managed in line with what was envisaged. Priorities were established and changes made in a thoughtful manner, with convincing rationales provided where divergences occurred away from original intentions

Health-related fitness as a predictor of anxiety levels among school adolescents: an observational cross-sectional study

Background: There is an inverse association between cardiorespiratory fitness and general anxiety levels in adolescents. Obesity also is associated with a higher risk of anxiety in this population. However, little is known about the association between other health-related fitness elements with anxiety symptoms in this population. The authors explored the relationship between health-related fitness and anxiety symptoms in a large sample of Brazilian youth. Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study with a sample comprised of 257 school adolescents, who were 136 girls (52.9%) and 121 boys (47.1%). The health-related fitness elements were evaluated by FitnessGram® test and anxiety levels by Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children - 39. Hierarchical regression analyses were used to determine the association between health-related fitness elements and anxiety symptoms in both sexes. Results: In male adolescents, only the cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly associated with anxiety symptoms (F(1, 119) = 6.472; P = 0.012; R2 = 0.052; adjusted R2 = 0.044). In turn, the anxiety symptoms showed an inverse small relationship with cardiorespiratory fitness (r = - 0.227; P < 0.01). However, in female adolescents, no association was found between health-related fitness elements and anxiety symptoms. Conclusion: The level of cardiorespiratory fitness may represent a marker of anxiety in male adolescents

REA 3D-dynamic analysis in Almaraz NPP with RELAP5/PARCS v2.7 and SIMTAB cross-sections tables

[EN] The Rod Ejection Accident (REA) belongs to the Reactivity-Initiated Accidents (RIA) category of accidents and it is part of the licensing basis accident analyses required for pressurized water reactors (PWR). The REA at Hot Zero Power (HZP) is characterized by a single rod ejection from a core position with a very low power level. The evolution consists basically of a continuous reactivity insertion. The main feature limiting the consequences of the accident in a PWR is the Doppler Effect. To check the performance of the coupled code RELAP5/PARCS v2.7 a REA in Almaraz NPP is simulated. These analyses will allow knowing more accurately the PWR real plant phenomenology in the RIA most limiting conditions.This work has been partially supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia under project PHB2007-0067-PC and by the Brazilian Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) under project CAPES/DGU 159/08. This work has also been partially supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia under project ENE2008-02669, the Generalitat Valenciana under project ACOMP/2009/058, and the Universitat Politècnica de València under project PAID-05-09-4285. The authors wish to acknowledge the technical and financial support of the Almaraz-Trillo AIE for this work.Barrachina Celda, TM.; Garcia-Fenoll, M.; Ánchel Añó, FC.; Miró Herrero, R.; Verdú Martín, GJ.; Pereira, C.; Da Silva, C.... (2011). REA 3D-dynamic analysis in Almaraz NPP with RELAP5/PARCS v2.7 and SIMTAB cross-sections tables. Progress in Nuclear Energy. 53(8):1167-1180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2011.07.012S1167118053

A novel PKC activating molecule promotes neuroblast differentiation and delivery of newborn neurons in brain injuries

Neural stem cells are activated within neurogenic niches in response to brain injuries. This results in the production of neuroblasts, which unsuccessfully attempt to migrate toward the damaged tissue. Injuries constitute a gliogenic/non-neurogenic niche generated by the presence of anti-neurogenic signals, which impair neuronal differentiation and migration. Kinases of the protein kinase C (PKC) family mediate the release of growth factors that participate in different steps of the neurogenic process, particularly, novel PKC isozymes facilitate the release of the neurogenic growth factor neuregulin. We have demonstrated herein that a plant derived diterpene, (EOF2; CAS number 2230806-06-9), with the capacity to activate PKC facilitates the release of neuregulin 1, and promotes neuroblasts differentiation and survival in cultures of subventricular zone (SVZ) isolated cells in a novel PKC dependent manner. Local infusion of this compound in mechanical cortical injuries induces neuroblast enrichment within the perilesional area, and noninvasive intranasal administration of EOF2 promotes migration of neuroblasts from the SVZ towards the injury, allowing their survival and differentiation into mature neurons, being some of them cholinergic and GABAergic. Our results elucidate the mechanism of EOF2 promoting neurogenesis in injuries and highlight the role of novel PKC isozymes as targets in brain injury regeneration

First-in-Human, First-in-Child Trial of Autologous MSCs Carrying the Oncolytic Virus Icovir-5 in Patients with Advanced Tumors

We present here the results of a first-in-human, first-in-child trial for patients with relapsed/refractory solid tumors using Celyvir, an advanced therapy medicine that combines autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) carrying an oncolytic adenovirus. Celyvir was manufactured from a bone marrow aspirate and then given intravenously. Patients received weekly infusions for 6 weeks at a dose of 2 × 106 cells/kg (children) or 0.5-1 × 106 cells/kg (adults), 2 × 104 viral particles per cell. Fifteen pediatric and 19 adult patients were recruited, but 18 were screen failures, mainly because rapid disease progression before Celyvir was available. No grade 2-5 toxicities were reported. Adenoviral replication detected by PCR was found in all but 2 pediatric patient and in none of the adult ones. Absolute numbers of circulating leukocytes suffered minor changes along therapy, but some subsets showed differences comparing the pediatric versus the adult cohorts. Two patients with neuroblastoma showed disease stabilization, and one of them continued on treatment for up to 6 additional weeks. Celyvir, the combination of MSCs and oncolytic adenovirus, is safe and warrants further evaluation in a phase 2 setting. The use of MSCs may be a strategy to increase the amount of oncolytic virus administered to patients, minimizing toxicities and avoiding direct tumor injections.The trial was sponsored by Fundación de Investigacion Biomedica del Hospital Nino Jesus (EudraCT 2008-000364-16; NCT01844661). This work was funded by grants EC11/061, EC08/00094, and EC07/90591 from Instituto de Salud Carlos III and Fondos FEDER. M.R is supported by Asociación Pablo Ugarte, Asociación NEN, and Fundación Neuroblastoma.S

Epidemiological Situation of Monkeypox Transmission by Possible Sexual Contact: A Systematic Review

Monkeypox (MPX), a zoonotic infection caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), has re-emerged worldwide with numerous confirmed cases with person-to-person transmission through close contacts, including in sexual networks. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the epidemiological situation of monkeypox transmission by possible sexual contact. A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases until 18 August 2022. The key search terms used were “monkeypox”, “sexual contact”, “sexual intercourse” and “sexual transmission”. A total of 1291 articles were retrieved using the search strategy. After eliminating duplicates (n = 738) and examining by title, abstract, and full text, 28 studies reporting case reports of monkeypox with a detailed description of clinical features, sexually transmitted diseases, method of diagnosis, location and course of skin lesions, and treatment were included. A total of 4222 confirmed cases of monkeypox have been reported, of which 3876 monkeypox cases are the result of transmission by sexual contact distributed in twelve countries: 4152 cases were male with a mean age of 36 years. All confirmed cases of monkeypox were diagnosed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The most frequent clinical manifestations were fever, lymphadenopathy, headache, malaise, and painful perianal and genital lesions. The most frequent locations of the lesions were perianal, genital, oral, trunk, upper and lower extremities. Patients were in good clinical condition, with treatment based on analgesics and antipyretics to relieve some symptoms of monkeypox. A high proportion of STIs and frequent anogenital symptoms were found, suggesting transmissibility through local inoculation during close skin-to-skin or mucosal contact during sexual activity. The highest risk of monkeypox transmission occurs in men who have sex with men, and MPXV DNA could be recovered in seminal fluid. It is essential to establish health policies for the early detection and management of patients with monkeypox